Sheet position detector

ABSTRACT

The present application discloses apparatus for combining two sheets, by use of an adhesive, in a desired relation. One sheet, which may have the adhesive applied thereto, is transported by an intermittently operable conveyor to a nominal location where combining with the other sheet occurs. Where such combining occurs, a positioning mechanism, controlled by light transmitting and receiving units, positions the other sheet with respect to the transported sheet such that the combined sheets define a desired positional relationship.

United States Patent [191.

Andresen, Jr.

[11] 3,817,157 1 June 18, 1974 SHEET POSITION DETECTOR William F.Andresen, Jr., Chalfont, Pa.

Assignee: FMC Corporation, San Jose. Calif.

Filed: May 22, 1972 Appl. No.: 255,744

Inventor:

US. Cl. 93/54 R, 156/364 Int. Cl B311) 15/02 Field of Search 93/54 R,54.2, 54.3;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1962 Von Hofe et al. 93/54 R4/1963 Albertson et a1. 93/54 R 12/1969 Dinter 156/364 (III: (L113 11113(1:13

Primary Examiner-Andrew R. Juhasz Assistant Examiner-Leon Gi1denAttorney, Agent, or Firm-L. J. Pizzanelli; C. E. Tripp 5 7] ABSTRACT Thepresent application discloses apparatus for combining two sheets, by useof an adhesive, in a desired relation. One sheet, which may have theadhesive applied thereto, is transported by an intermittently operableconveyor to a nominal location where combining with the other sheetoccurs. Where such combining occurs, a positioning mechanism, controlledby light transmitting and receiving units, positions the other sheetwith respect to the transported sheet such that the combined sheetsdefine a desired positional relationship.

8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDJun 18 m4 SHEET 1 [1F 5 Him HMI IU nIHHw n l l lu nwl l lu PATENTEBJunw m4 sumanrs 3317357 T'IG 3'PATENTEDJumam 33311.15?

SHEET 5 0F 5 FIB El 1 SHEET POSITION DETECTOR BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION Apparatus for adhesively combining or unifying two sheets offlexible material such as paper, plastics, leather, etc., has, up untilrecent years involved a fair degree of hand labor which, to respond tocompetitive conditions, has been continually diminished by variousinnovations.

One field of activity which has provoked many of such innovations is therigid box making industry. In recent years the use of rigid boxes hasexperienced a continual decline mainly as a result of cost advantagesresulting from use of erectable cartons. Cartons can be produced ingreat quantities at a minimum unit labor charge that is significantlyless than rigid boxes. Of equal importance is the fact that cartons canbe shipped to the user in a collapsed condition. Cartons, however, havenot been accepted for packaging quality products such as candles,perfumes and various toiletnes.

To produce the typical rigid box various types of machinery is used andfor purposes of illustration reference should be made to US. Pat. No.3,045,561 which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention andby reference thereto it is intended that its disclosure be incorporatedherein.

Briefly, rectangular blanks of any desired dimensions, having a smallsquare slug removed from each corner, and provided with score linesweakening the blank to facilitate bending, is erected by a quad stayer.Erection is accomplished by applying small strips of tape to eachcorner, The erected boxes may then be transported to a conveyorsupporting and conveying glued covering material, referred to in the artas wraps, and positioned thereon by prior art registering devices(designated as R in U.S. Pat. No. 3,045,561) or applied to the wrap byhand which requires the operator to visually register an erected boxwith each wrap. Oftentimes hand registration is inaccurate resulting ina scrapped box part.

A significant improvement in registration devices is shown and describedin U.S. Pat. No. 3,400,031 which discloses the typical intermittentmotion wrap conveyor locating a series of glued spaced wrapssuccessively at a registration station located thereabove. Theregistration station comprises an articulated frame for releasablyretaining a second sheet which will be applied to the glued sheetlocated on the wrap conveyor. Light emitting and light receivingelements, generally characterized as photocell units, are mounted on theframe and are operable to detect a selected edge of the sheet supportedon the conveyor. These photocell units are operably connected to ahydraulic servo system which is arranged to adjust the articulated frameso that the sheet retained thereby is vertically aligned with the sheetlocated on the conveyor. Once alignment is achieved a plunger isactuated transferring the sheet from the articulated frame to the sheeton the conveyor.

The above briefly described automatic registration unit, relies, for itsoperation, on the principle of reflected light. More particularly thephotocell units emit a beam of light that intercepts an edge of thesheet on the conveyor. The light is reflected back to the photocell unitand picked up by a receptor associated with each photocell unit. Inbrief, operation of the automatic spotter shown in U.S. Pat. No.3,400,031 is as follows. After the sheet transporting conveyor hasstopped at a nominal location the articulated frame supporting thephotocell units commences to hunt until one photocell unit detects aportion of the edge of the sheet on the conveyor. Once a particularphotocell unit locates the edge of the sheet operation of the actuatorassociated therewith is interrupted. The other photocell will continueto operate the actuator associated therewith until it also detectsanother portion of the leading edge of the wrap and at such timeoperation of the actuator, associated therewith is terminated. Withregistration completed the sheets are then combined.

Experience with the automatic spotting system of the above describedpatent revealed that proper operation will occur whenever the colordifferences between the transporting conveyor belt and the sheet arewithin the range of discrimination of the photocell units. While someefforts have been made to determine the necessary color differenceswithin the range of discrimination of the photocell units in practicethis is determined by experimentation. In the event the colordifferences are not within a range of discrimination of the photocellunits registration cannot be accomplished. The problem of colordifferences can obviously be solved by providing different colors ofconveyor belts but operators are reluctant to incur the added costinvolved in purchasing conveyor belts of various colors and theattendant costs of time and labor for changing the belts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the object and purpose of the presentinvention to provide a sheet registration unit that fulfills therequirements of most users while at the same time providing anarrangement which is significantly less expensive than automaticspotting equipment now in use. Its simplicity does not requiremaintenance skills that are not usually found in box manufacturingoperations. Moreover, it is the object of the present invention toincrease the cycle rate of registration equipment over that provided byknown automatic spotting equipment and yet result in a degree ofaccuracy which is commercially acceptable for the great majority ofrequirements.

In accordance with the present invention a conventional intermittentlyoperated wrap conveyor is provided associated with a gluer that depositsregularly longitudinally spaced glued wrap on the conveyor. Associatedwith the wrap conveyor is a mechanism for transporting and registering astayed box with a wrap located at a spotting station. After the box isapplied to the glued wrap, the wrap conveyor is indexed to position asuccessive wrap at the spotting station.

It is a primary feature of the present invention to provide an atomaticsheet registration device which is responsive'to the interruption ofsensing means which may consist of light, audio or a fluidic coupling.At present the preferred form involves use of light beams andphotoelectric recepters which-are in the path of the wrap supported onthe conveyor. Theregistration device is operative to position a stayedbox until one edge, preferably the trailing edge, of the wrap interceptsthe light beam indicating the stayed box to be in proper alignment withthe wrap. The stayed box is then lowered and applied to the gluedsurface of the wrap.

Further in accordance with the present invention the wrap transportingconveyor is provided with a series of apertures which are locatedrelative to each other to in effect provide a longitudinally continuousopening so that a reference edge of the wrap, regardless of its positionrelative to the openings, can be detected. Although it is recognizedthat the apertures in the conveyor belt can take various forms andlocated in various patterns the disclosure of the present inventionshows two rows of staggered elongate apertures which are effective toprovide, at any transverse line, an opening for detection of the wrap.By providing such an arrangement, which in effect is the equivalent to acontinuous elongate slot which might be defined by two belts beingslightly laterally spaced, there is no need to insure that successivewraps are located at a particular position on the transport conveyor.

In order to achieve fairly accurate registration by use of theprinciples of the present invention it is a condition that thelongitudinal edges of the wrap (as distinguished from the leading andtrailing edges) are parallel to the longitudinal medium of the conveyorand that the wrap is located a specified distance from one referenceedge of the conveyor. The reason for locating the wrap in this manner,is because the registration device of the present invention is limitedto achieving registration along one axis and such axis is parallel tothe longitudinal median of the wrap conveyor. Although this isrecognized as a limitation as to the flexibility of the registrationdevice of the present invention this would not constitute a factoragainst its commercial acceptability due to its simplicity resulting ina substantially less expensive registration device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of the boxspotting device made in accordance with the present invention shown witha fragmentary portion of a wrap conveyor cooperable therewith,

FIG. 2 is a transverse section of FIG. 1 taken substantially along theline 2-2 illustrating the relationship of the wrap conveyor, theregistration device and the box supply and feed unit,

FIG. 3 is a section taken substantially along line 33 of FIG. 2,

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are plan views showing the operational sequence thattakes place in registering a stayed box with the wrap,

FIG. 7 is a schematic of the hydro-pneumatic and electrical controls forcontrolling the sequence of operation of the wrap conveyor and thespotting-device,

FIGS. 8 and 9 show, respectively, a sonic detector and a fluidicdetector that can be substituted for the photocells of the preferredembodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The overall arrangement of thepreferred form of the sheet registering apparatus is shown in FIGS. 1, 2and 3 and reference thereto will reveal a fragmentary upper portion of aframe structure 10 having connected thereto, in laterally opposedrelation, a box feed and supply mechanism 12 and box spotting means 14constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.Supported on the frame structure 10, in any selected manner, is aconveyor guide frame 16 slidably supporting an intermittently operableconveyor belt 18 on which is deposited, in a selected orientation and atlongitudinally spaced intervals, wraps W. The supply mechanism 12provides a single file of boxes B the leading one of which istransported laterally, relative to the conveyor 18, by a transport means20, (FIG. 2) to a retaining device 22 which includes vacuum cups 24 thatengage a longitudinal side wall of a box B. FIG. 2 shows a box engagedbythe vacuum cup 24 and at this point of the cycle it will be observedthat the box is a substantial distance above the wrap W.

The successive glued wraps are located on the conveyor 18 so that theirlongitudinal edges LE are .parallel to the longitudinal median of theconveyor belt 18 and further the wraps are at regularly spaced intervalsand at a preselected transverse position such that the distance,indicated by the dimension line S, (FIG. 1) is constant or substantiallyconstant. At each incremental advance of the conveyor 18 the leadingwrap is located out of register with the overlying box and registrationis always accomplished by moving the box in the direction of conveyormovement.

At this time the box spotting means 14 is rendered operative, as will beexplained in detail hereinafter, to translate a bracket 28 (to the rightas viewed in FIG. 1) until the box is in a prescribed orientation withrespect to the wrap located therebelow. To achieve suchalignment sensingmeans 30, mounted on the bracket 28 and responding to light sources 32,provides a signal for operating a linear actuator 34 having the end ofits rod rigidly connected to the bracket 28 at 36. The linear actuator34 is operated to translate the bracket 28 to the right (FIG. 1) untilthe trailing edge of the wrap located at the spotting positioninterrupts the light received from the sources 32. When this conditionis attained the box is in alignment with the wrap directly therebelowproviding a signal for operating a box lowering mechanism, generallyindicated by the numeral 38, (FIG. 2) including an electric clutch brakedevice 40 which is intermittently operable to rotate a cam 42 arrangedto reciprocate flexible shafts 44 and 46 which are rigidly connected toblocks 48 carrying the vacuum cups 24.

After the box held by the vacuum cups 24 is lowered onto the wrap,vacuum to the cups is interrupted and a slight over-pressure is appliedto reliably release the box. Immediately thereafter the flexible shafts44 and 46 are actuated raising the vacuum cups to the position shown inFIG. 2 The conveyor 18 may then be advanced to locate a subsequent wrapat the spotting station.

In accordance with one novel feature of the present invention thesimplified box spotting means 14 depends for its operation on the factthat the successive wraps carried by the conveyor 18 are at regularlyspaced in tervals and the wrap has one of its longitudinal edges LSlocated parallel to and at a fixed distance from a reference line, withsuch distance being indicated by the dimension line S. Referring to FIG.1 it will be seen that three successive wraps are shown and they areidentifled as W-l, W-2 and W-3. The wrap W-2 is located below thespotting means 14 and the condition is shown before the box overlyingthe wrap is brought in register therewith. The wraps are located on theconveyor 18 such that when the successive wraps arrive at the spottingstation the trailing end of the wrap is always in advance of the sensingmeans 30 so that the light, originating from the light sources 32, isdetected by photocells 50 and 52 carried by a bracket structure 54 whichis rigidly mounted on the bracket 28 and is adjusted by a screw 56.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the conveyor frame 16 is provided with achannel 58 in which are located a pair of light bulbs 60 and 62radiating light through two rows of elongate staggered apertures 64 and66 arranged in this manner so that light emitted from either one of thebulbs is always detected by one of the photocells 50 or 52 irrespectiveof the relative position of the wrap. As will be described hereinafter,the photocells 50 and 52 are connected in parallel to provide a signalat all times to operate the linear actuator 34 for alignment of the boxwith the wrap.

The box spotting means 14, which includes the bracket 28, is mounted ona longitudinal structural member 68 fixed to the frame structure 10.Rigidly secured to the member 68 are bored blocks 70 and 72 slidablyreceiving connecting rods 74 and 76. Any desired means, such as lockscrews, can be provided to lock the blocks 70 and 72 in a desiredlateral position. On respective ends of each rod 74 and 76 lugs 78 and80 are rigidly mounted. Each lug is provided with a bore for slidablyreceiving a guide rod 82 having its ends fixed in the bracket 28. Thelug 78, is made larger than the lug 80 for the purpose of mounting thelinear actuator 34 in a depending saddle 84.

To provide linear guides for the flexible shafts 44 and 46 bearingblocks 86 and 88, slidably receiving the shafts 44 and 46, are rigidlymounted on the bracket 28 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. As mentionedpreviously, the ends of the flexible shafts 44 and 46 are rigidlyconnected to members 48 which mount the vacuum cups 24.

With the wrap W-2 (FIG. 1) in the illustrated position, light emanatingfrom the bulbs 60 and 62 pass through the apertures located directlybelow the photo cells 50 and 52. The light energy energizes one or bothof the photocells, and through appropriate controls, later to bedescribed in detail, the linear actuator 34 is retracted, shifting thebracket 28 and the parts carried thereby, to the right as viewed in FIG.1 until the trailing edge of the wrap interrupts the light beam stoppingmovement of the actuator 34. As a consequence the box held by the vacuumcups 24 is in register with the wrap at this time.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the box lowering mechanism 38, which isrendered operative after the wrap has been aligned with the box,comprises an input shaft 90 driven by a belt 92 trained about a pulley94 keyed on the shaft 90. The shaft 90 is keyed to the clutch-brake 40.The clutch-brake 40 includes a clutch portion 40c and a brake portion40b. When the clutch 400 is energized and the brake 40b is deenergized,the shaft 90 is coupled to drive an output shaft 96. The shaft'portionsand 96 are suitably rotatably supported in structural members 98 whichform part of the frame structure 10. Upon rotation of theshaft 96, thecam 42, which is keyed thereon, also rotates, and through a cam followerroller 100 in a cam track 102, the flexible shafts 44 and 46 arereciprocated by virtue of their connection to a crosshead 104 on whichthe cam follower roller 100 is rotatably mounted.

A After the flexible shafts 44 and 46 are actuated to raise the vacuumcups 24 to their starting position, a subsequent box from the box feedand supply mechanism 12 is fed laterally toward the conveyor 18 by afeed conveyor 105 to a position where it can be engaged and transportedby the transport means 20. Although an exemplary transport means isshown it is to be understood that such means can take various forms aslong as the requirement of sequentially feeding a box to the vacuum cups24 is fulfilled.

With respect to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 which show a wrap beingtransported tothe spotting station (FIG. 4), located at the spotting station prior toregistration (FIG. 5) and when registration of the box with the wrap hasbeen attained (FIG. 6), it should be noted that the sensing means 30always has one of the photocells 50 and 52 exposed to the lightemanating from one of the lights 60 or 62. For example, in FIG. 5 afterthe conveyor 18 has been stopped, locating the wrap at the registrationstation, light to one of the photocells is interrupted as that photocellpasses over the belt portion between the apertures in a row. Moreparticularly, when the linear actuator 34 is retracted from its extendedposition, the light which will be detected by the photocell 50 will beinterrupted as it traverses the conveyor portion between the twoadjacent apertures 64 in the row of apertures directly thereunder whilethe photocell 52 will be exposed to the light conditioning the controlcircuit to continue operation of the linear actuator 34. In FIG. 6 thesame effect is experienced by the photocell 52 when it traverses theconveyor belt portion between adjacent apertures 66 in the row alignedtherewith but at this time photocell 50 is conducting. FIG. 6 shows thesensing means 30 overlying the trailing edge of the wrap W at whichpoint the light to both photocells is inerrupted arresting movement ofthe linear actuator 34. As explained above under these conditions thebox is in alignment with the wrap. Thus the two rows of elongatestaggered apertures result in providing the equivalent to a continuouselongate slot much as would exist if two laterally spaced conveyor beltswere substituted for the conveyor belt 18. It is, however, to beappreciated that it is entirely possible to provide a contin uous signalby providing two rows of apertures of various configurations and variouspatterns other than that show-n and described herein.

Since the box registration device of the present invention is used incombination with various other machinery coordinated to produce awrapped box part, a signal to initiate and terminate operation of thespotting device is derived from such machinery. Reference to US. Pat.No. 3,045,561, mentioned hereinabove, illustrating a complete box lineidentifies the wrapper by the letter M. The wrapper operates to completeapplying the wrapto the vertical'side walls of the box and when itscycle of operation is complete or substantially complete a signal isgiven to the gluer G and the wrapper conveyor belt 18 to index aprescribed amount and thus commences operation of the spotting device.With this brief explanation of the manner in which the box spottingdevice of the present invention may be integrated with other mechanismsreference is now made to FIG. 7 which shows a schematic diagram of thecontrol devices for the spotting device.

A single revolution shaft 106, having keyed thereon a cam 108 and asprocket 110, effects intermittent movement of the conveyor 18 through achain 112 and a sprocket 1l4 driving a shaft 116 on which is fixed apulley 118. The cam 108 is provided with a rise portion 108a operating alinkage 120 for opening and closing switches SW-] and SW-2, which, whenclosed, electrically connect components of the electrical circuit acrossthe supply lines L1 and L2. A relay 122, electrically connected tophotocells 50 and 52, is connected across lines L1 and L2 through switchSW-1. Light sources60 and 62 are connected across the lines L1 and L2through branch lead 124. In a branch lead 126, connecting a solenoid 128to the line L2 through the switch 8-2, are normally closed contacts CR1operated by the relay 122. Solenoid 128 is also connected to the line L1through branch lead 130. The solenoid 128 operates a valve 132 thatconnects the head end of the actuator 34, through conduit 134, with asource of hydraulic fluid in an accumulator 136. The rod end of theactuator 34 is connected to another source of hydraulic fluid in anaccumulator 138 through a conduit 140. The accumulators 136 and 138 areselectively connectible, through a source of pressure air, communicatedthereto through a conduit 142 by a solenoid operated valve 144. Thesolenoid 156 is connected across the lines L1 and L2 through branchleads 130 and 126.

Vacuum is supplied to the vacuum cup 24 through a conduit 148 which isconnected to a vacuum pump 146. In the conduit 148 is a vacuum switch150 in series with the switch SW-2. A branch conduit 152 makescommunication with the vacuum conduit 148 and it is associated with avalve 154 which is operable to establish communication between the airpressure line 142 and the vacuum conduit 148 at that point in ,the cycleafter the box has been applied to the wrap. In lines 134 and 140 handvalves 135 and 137 are provided for drawing make-up fluid from a source139.

To explain the operation of the various components shown in FIG. 7 onecycle of operation will be described. On signal from the wrapper theshaft 106 rotates one revolution indexing the conveyor 18 to position aglued wrap at the registration station and switches SW-l and SW-2 areclosed by actuation of the linkage 120 by the rise portion 1080 of thecam 108. Closing switch SW-l electrically connects the relay 122 to thelines L1 and L2 and concurrently therewith the photocells 50 and 52 arerendered conducting. Since relay contacts CR1 in line 126 are closed thesolenoid 128 is energized establishing communication between the headend of the linear actuator 34 with the fluid accumulator 136. Thesolenoid 156, of valve 144, is energized upon the closing of switch SW-2to position the spool 144a connecting air line 142 with the accumulator138. The head pressure communicated by line 142 expels fluid from theaccumulator 138 into the conduit 140 to the rod end of the linearactuator 34. With the piston of the linear actuator 34 moving to theright, as viewed in FIG. 7, the bracket 28 which is rigidly connected tothe piston rod translates the bracket, the sensing means 30, and the boxcarried by the vacuum cups 24, as a unit. Such movement continues untilthe trailing edge of the wrap interrupts the beam of light received bythe photocells 50 and 52 deenergizing the relay 122 and opening contactsCR1 in line 126. Opening the contacts CR1 deenergizes the solenoid 128shifting the spool of the valve 132 to block flow of fluid from the headend of the linear actuator 34. A check valve 158 in the loop 160 alsoserves to retain the fluid in the head end of the actuator 34.

Since a stayed box B is retained by the vacuum cups 24 and thiscondition must exist before the registration device can operate, as itis necessary that the vacuum switch 150 in line 126 be closed, theelectromagnetic clutch-brake 40, which may be connected in series withthe vacuum switch 150, is actuated deenergizing the brake 40b andenergizing the clutch 40c so that lowering of the box onto theregistered wrap is effected. When the box has been applied to the wrapthe valve 154 in line 152 is actuated by a stem 155 connecting pressureair from line 142 with the line 152 which communicates with the line148. Such action not only interrupts vacuum to the cups 124 but alsoapplies a slight overpressure reliably releasing the vacuum cups 24 fromthe box after it as been applied to the wrap.

As soon as the box is released by the vacuum cups 24, the vacuum switch150 in line 126 opens deenergizing the solenoid 156 shifting the spool144a to establish communication between the pressure air line 142 andthe accumulator 136. The air admitted to the accumulator 136 forcesfluid therefrom into the conduit 134 through the check valve 158 intoloop 160 and to the head end of actuator 34 moving the piston of theactuator to the left as viewed in FIG. 7. Fluid from the rod end of theactuator is returned through line 140 to the accumulator 138. While thelinear actuator assumes the condition shown in FIG. 7 the vacuum cups 24are returned to their upper position effected by deenergization of theclutch 40c and energization of the brake 40b. Upon command from thewrapper (shown in US. Pat. No. 3,045,561 referred to above) shaft 106 isrotated one revolution positioning another wrap at the registrationstation during which time another box from the feed and supply mechanism12 is transported to the vacuum cups by the transport means 120. Oncethese conditions have been fulfilled the registration device is preparedto repeat the above described operation.

Modified forms of the wrap sensing means 30 are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9,which, for the purposes of simplicity, only a portion of the subjectmatter of FIG. 7'

is repeated. It is to be understood that the common elements shown inFIGS. 8 and 9 will be assigned the same numerals as FIG. 7 but theparticular sensing means will be assigned distinguishing numerals.

Referring first to FIG. 8 the sensing means 30a in this particularmodification comprise sonic receiving units 50a and 52a located invertical alignment with sonic sending units 60a and 62a. As in the caseof the photocell units, the sonic sending and receiving units are inalignment with the apertures in the conveyor belt 18 and are connectedin parallel by lines 70a and 70b to a relay-amplifier 122a so that oneof the receiving units 50a or 52a is at all times receiving a signalfrom the sending unit 60a or 62a also connected in parallel torelay-amplifier 122a. Only when the trailing edge of the wrap shieldsboth receiving units, indicating the box to be in register with thewrap, will a signal be sent to the relay-amplifier 122a which will causethe amplifier 122a to open the contacts CR1 in line 126. As in theprevious case, opening contacts CR1 shifts the spool of the valve 132blocking the line 134 thereby preventing retraction of the linearactuator 34. Sonic detecting devices which aresuitable for the describedpurpose are manufactured by Delavan Manufacturing Company of West DesMoines, Iowa, which in addition to the sonic senders and receiversmanufactures appropriate conrq t n samplifisrsan rela f9r f fi s v r ouscontrol functions.

The wrap detecting arrangement shown in FIG. 9 schematically discloses apreferred arrangement in the event it is desired to use fluidicdetecting devices. Such an arrangement includes an OR/NOR gate 122bwhich is connected, by means of a conduit 170, to a source of air underpressure flowing through the gate l22b and discharging from 170a or 170bdepending on the absence or the presence of a diverting stream of air.Air under pressure supplied through a line 51 flows to receivers 50b and52b but the value of pressure to the receivers is controlled byadjustable throttles 50c and 52c in lines 53 and 55 which communicatewith supply lines 51. Air at line pressure from the line 51 isdischarged through emitters 60b and 62b, which, as shown in FIG. 9, arelocated directly below the receivers 50b and 52b respectively. The smallquantity of air continually discharged through the receivers 50b and 52bby virtue of the throttles 50c and 52c is for the purpose of preventingcontamination of the receivers but the value of pressure is such thatcontrol function of the OR/NOR gate 122b is not affected.

Since the fluidic receivers 50!) and 52b, as well as the fluidicemitters 60b and 62b, are connected in parallel, air discharged by theemitters 60b and 62b will always be received by one of the receivers5012 or 52b. Under these conditions control pressure will becommunicated to the OR/NOR gate 122b through lines 50d or 52d providinga biasing air stream to insure that air derived from the line 170 isdirected to the branch line 170a whose output operates the pressureswitch 172 connecting a relay coil 174 across the supply lines L1 andL2. With the relay coil 174 energized the relay contacts CR1 in line 126are closed allowing pressure fluid from the head end of actuator 34 toreturn to the accumulator 136.

When the edge of the wrap interrupts the stream of air from both of theemitters 60b and 62b, occurring when the box has been aligned with thewrap, biasing pressure fluid in line 50d and 52d is interrupted and theair stream from line 170 is diverted to branch line 1170);. Thisoccurrence opens the pressure switch 172 which deenergizes the relaycoil 174 opening the normally closed contacts CR1 in line 126. With therelay contacts CR1 open the solenoid 12b is deenergized shifting thespool of the valve M2 to block flow of fluid in the line 134. Movementof the bracket 28 is instantaneously arrested, conditioning the circuitto lower the box onto the wrap registered therewith.

Fluidic controls to perform the above described functions are providedby Corning Fluidic Products Department, Corning Glass Works, Corning,New York and are identified by Part Number 191453.

It is to be realized that operation of the clutch-brake 40 proceeds asdescribed in the preferred embodiment.

Although the best mode contemplated for carrying out the presentinvention has been herein shown and described, it will be apparent thatmodification and variation may be made without departing from what isregarded to be the subject matter of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A box machine for registering glued wraps with boxes and placing theboxes on the wrap, said machine comprising a frame, an indexed conveyoron said frame for transporting longitudinally spaced and glued wrapsthrough a predetermined distance, means defining a registration stationfor registering a box with and applying it to a wrap, said registrationstation including a bracket member mounting a box gripper for initiallyholding a box above a wrap, means mounting said bracket member on saidframe for shifting motion parallel to the motion of said conveyona wrapsensor on said bracket member for sensing a transverse edge of a wrap,an actuator for shifting said bracket member and wrap sensor, controlmeans for said actuator including means for causing said actuator toposition said bracket member in an initial position wherein a transverseedge of a wrap is adjacent to said sensor on completion of each indexingof said conveyor, said control means including means controlled by saidsensor for causing said actuator to shift said bracket memberlongitudinally to a registration position where the sensor detects saidtransverse edge of the wrap, means for thereupon holding said bracketmember in said registration position, and means for lowering the boxgripper on said bracket member for applying the registered box onto saidwrap.

2. The box machine of claim 1, wherein said box gripper comprisessuction cups for engaging an upstanding wall of said box, means forlowering said cups to place a box on said wrap, and means connected tosaid bracket member and operable when said box is applied to said wrapfor connecting said suction cups to a source of airat above atmosphericpressure air to release said box.

3. In a box machine including a longitudinally running conveyor belt fortransporting wraps, a registration station including longitudinallyshiftable means for gripping a box and applying it to a wrap, means toindex said conveyor belt to locate successive wraps at said registrationstation, sensor means on said box gripping means and controlling anactuator for causing shifting of said box gripping means until atransverse edge of the wrap is detected by said sensor means whereuponthe box is registered with the wrap, said sensor means comprising twolaterally spaced but longitudinally aligned sensors disposed above saidconveyor, said conveyor being formed with laterally spaced, longitudinalrows of longitudinally spaced individual apertures, the apertures in onerow being staggered relative to those in the other row, the apertures ineach row having a longitudinal extent greater than the spacing betweenadjacent pairs of apertures in the other row, each of said sensors beingaligned with one: of said rows of apertures, and circuit means connectedto said sensors so that if either sensor overlies a conveyor beltaperture after indexing of said conveyor a shift signal is provided forshifting said box gripping means to bring said sen-j sors toward atransverse edge of the wrap, said circuit means providing a stop signalwhen said transverse edge of the wrap is brought under either sensor tothereby stop the shifting movement of said box gripping means. I r

4. The box machine of claim 3, wherein each of said sensors compriseslight emitting sources below said conveyor and photocells on said boxgripping means.

5. The box machine of claim 3, wherein said sensor means comprises sonicsending and receiving units mounted, respectively, below said conveyorand on said box gripping means. I

6. The box machine of claim 3, wherein said sensor means comprises fluiddischarge and fluid receiving units mounted, respectively, below saidconveyor and on said box gripping means.

7. The box machine of claim 1, wherein said actuator for moving said boxgripping bracket member comprises a hydraulic linear actuator includinga piston defining a rod-end liquid chamber and a head-end liquidchamber, means for simultaneously supplying liquid under pressure to onechamber while allowing liquid to be discharged from the other chamberfor shifting said bracket member, and control means responsive todetection of the edge of said wrap for blocking flow of liquid from saidother chamber for arresting the shifting of said bracket member.

8. A machine for assembling boxes with registered sheets including aconveyor for transporting longitudinally spaced glued sheets, aregistration station associated with said conveyor, means at saidregistration station for retaining boxes and applying them to successiveglued sheets, means for indexing said conveyor to locate successiveglued sheets at said registration station, means for shifting said boxretaining means in a plane parallel to said conveyor to center the boxover the glued sheet, means on said box retaining means for detecting anedge of the glued sheet, and means for lowering the box onto said sheet;the improvement wherein said box retaining means is mounted for saidshifting motion in a plane parallel to the conveyor only in a directionparallel to the direction of said conveyor motion, said detecting meanssensing a transverse edge only of said glued sheet, said box shiftingmeans comprising a control means responsive to said edge detecting meansfor shifting said box retaining means linearly and parallel to thedirection of motion of said conveyor until said glued sheet edge isdetected, said control means including means for thereupon arrestingmotion of said box retaining means to leave the box centered over theglued sheet.

1. A box machine for registering glued wraps with boxes and placing theboxes on the wrap, said machine comprising a frame, an indexed conveyoron said frame for transporting longitudinally spaced and glued wrapsthrough a predetermined distance, means defining a registration stationfor registering a box with and applying it to a wrap, said registrationstation including a bracket member mounting a box gripper for initiallyholding a box above a wrap, means mounting said bracket member on saidframe for shifting motion parallel to the motion of said conveyor, awrap sensor on said bracket member for sensing a transverse edge of awrap, an actuator for shifting said bracket member and wrap sensor,control means for said actuator including means for causing saidactuator to position said bracket member in an initial position whereina transverse edge of a wrap is adjacent to said sensor on completion ofeach indexing of said conveyor, said control means including meanscontrolled by said sensor for causing said actuator to shift saidbracket member longitudinally to a registration position where thesensor detects said transverse edge of the wrap, means for thereuponholding said bracket member in said registration position, and means forlowering the box gripper on said bracket member for applying theregistered box onto said wrap.
 2. The box machine of claim 1, whereinsaid box gripper comprises suction cups for engaging an upstanding wallof said box, means for lowering said cups to place a box on said wrap,and means connected to said bracket member and operable when said box isapplied to said wrap for connecting said suction cups to a source of airat above atmospheric pressure air to release said box.
 3. In a boxmachine including a longitudinally running conveyor belt fortransporting wraps, a registration station including longitudinallyshiftable means for gripping a box and applying it to a wrap, means toindex said conveyor belt to locate successive wraps at said registrationstation, sensor means on said box gripping means and controlling anactuator for causing shifting of said box gripping means until atransverse edge of the wrap is detected by said sensor means whereuponthe box is registered with the wrap, said sensor means comprising twolaterally spaced but longitudinally aligned sensors disposed above saidconveyor, said conveyor being formed with laterally spaced, longitudinalrows of longitudinally spaced individual apertures, the apertures in onerow being staggered relative to those in the other row, the apertures ineach row having a longitudinal extent greater than the spacing betweenadjacent pairs of apertures in the other row, each of said sensors beingaligned with one of said rows of apertures, and circuit means connectedto said sensors so that if either sensor overlies a conveyor beltaperture after indexing of said conveyor a shift signal is provided forshifting said box gripping means to bring said sensors toward atransverse edge of the wrap, said circuit means providing a stop signalwhen said transverse edge of the wrap is brought under either sensor tothereby stop the shifting movement of said box gripping means.
 4. Thebox machine of claim 3, wherein each of said sensors comprises lightemitting sources below said conveyor and photocells on said box grippingmeans.
 5. The box machine of claim 3, wherein said sensor meanscomprises sonic sending and receiving units mounted, respectively, belowsaid conveyor and on said box gripping means.
 6. The box machine ofclaim 3, wherein said sensor means comprises fluid discharge and fluidreceiving units mounted, respectively, below said conveyor and on saidbox gripping means.
 7. The box machine of claim 1, wherein said actuatorfor moving said box gripping bracket member comprises a hydraulic linearactuator including a piston defining a rod-end liquid chamber and ahead-end liquid chamber, means for simultaneously supplying liquid underpressure to one chamber while allowing liquid to be discharged from theother chamber for shifting said bracket member, and control meansresponsive to detection of the edge of said wrap for blocking flow ofliquid from said other chamber for arresting the shifting of saidbracket member.
 8. A machine for assembling boxes with registered sheetsincluding a conveyor for transporting longitudinally spaced gluedsheets, a registration station associated with said conveyor, means atsaid registration station for retaining boxes and applying them tosuccessive glued sheets, means for indexing said conveyor to locatesuccessive glued sheets at said registration station, means for shiftingsaid box retaining means in a plane parallel to said conveyor to centerthe box over the glued sheet, means on said box retaining means fordetecting an edge of the glued sheet, and means for lowering the boxonto said sheet; the improvement wherein said box retaining means ismounted for said shifting motion in a plane parallel to the conveyoronly in a direction parallel to the direction of said conveyor motion,said detecting means sensing a transverse edge only of said glued sheet,said box shifting means comprising a control means responsive to saidedge detecting means for shifting said box retaining means linearly andparallel to the direction of motion of said conveyor until said gluedsheet edge is detected, said control means including means for thereuponarresting motion of said box retaining means to leave the box centeredover the glued sheet.